OpenSooq
 | |
Type of site | Classifieds |
|---|---|
| Available in | Arabic, English |
| Headquarters | Amman, Jordan |
| Area served | MENA Region |
| Founder(s) | Salah Sharef, Adey Salamin |
| Industry | Internet |
| Services | E-commerce |
| Employees | 150 |
| Parent | iMENA Group |
| Website | OpenSooq |
| Alexa rank |  521 (November 2018[update]).[1] |
| Launched | 2008 |
OpenSooq.com
OpenSooq, (in Arabic: 'السوق المفتوح’ ; literally "Open Market"), is a mobile-first classifieds marketplace that allows users to buy and sell products and services across a wide range of categories that includes autos, real estate, jobs, electronics, home, fashion, and other products and services[2].
OpenSooq is present in 19 countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) including key markets of Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, and Libya.[3] The company is present on all major platforms including mobile, desktop, iOS and Android[4]
History
OpenSooq.com as a website was founded by Salah Sharef, a Libyan American, and was launched in 2008 to cater to the Libyan market. In 2012, iMENA Group invested in OpenSooq and the company was established and launched to target other markets in the region.[5] The company was joined by Adey Salamin, originally founder of iMENA Group, who later became the co-founder and CEO of OpenSooq.com.
The operations were launched in Jordan in late 2012 where the company is now headquartered. Focus then was on user growth across the region while building a robust and high-performing platform.
In October 2013, OpenSooq launched its first mobile application. Within 1 year of being live, OpenSooq set a record by being the first mobile classifieds player to achieve 2 million downloads, surpassing all competition at the time.[6]
In 2015, OpenSooq and LINE (a leading social messaging and calling application) formed a strategic partnership to expand the reach of both parties in the region and provide a fully comprehensive experience for users.[7]
In 2017, OpenSooq vastly improved its product functionality including providing and updating its mobile applications and user interface, its popular chat service, and launched new payment features including a payment wallet, and new functionalities for sellers such as ad analytics.
In 2018, OpenSooq launched its value-added services to its users that include more advanced listing services, dedicated shops products, and display advertising in select markets, resulting in significant revenue growth, while continuing to grow its operational metrics.
Overview
Growth in mobile internet and smartphone penetration in the region is changing the classifieds market in MENA with OpenSooq being a leader in this transformation[5].
The platform achieved a growth of 320 times in its core KPIs from 2012 to 2016 while generating 1.4 billion monthly page views. With that, OpenSooq is on its way to capture a big part of the estimated $1 billion classifieds market in MENA.[8]
On 16 August 2017 Vostok New Ventures called OpenSooq the new Avito. According to SimilarWeb,[9] ten of the top Arab countries received about 90 percent of the 9.4 million visits (desktop and mobile sites) counted for OpenSooq in July 2017.[10]
Site and App characteristics
OpenSooq’s primary focus is to enable people and SMEs to buy, chat and sell. Over the years, the experience and the products were fine-tuned and optimized to ensure a smooth selling and buying experience for its users.
For everyone using the applications or website, a very easy registration and login process is in place. An advanced chat system is available for use allowing for text, image, video and voice notes as a communications means between buyers and sellers.
OpenSooq has advanced filters allowing buyers to find what they are looking for in a quick and easy manner. On the other hand, for sellers, it was made simple to list any items they want to sell within seconds.
SME tools and details statistics are also available which help with the selling process. Paid features are also available if a seller is in need to sell/rent their product, item or service faster. For pro-sellers, a shop page is essential for more views, faster selling and to showcase all details of the business on all platforms.
References
- ↑ "OpenSooq.com Traffic, Demographics and Competitors - Alexa". www.alexa.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ↑ "Bloomberg - Are you a robot?". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ↑ Herlin, Lars (2017-08-16). "Vostok New Ventures calls Opensooq the new Avito". AIM Group. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ↑ "With AdWords and AdMob, Opensooq's App expanding across the Middle East". Think with Google. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Brands of Jordan part 4". Venture Magazine. 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ↑ "OpenSooq App Sets A New Record In The MENA Region With 2 Million Downloads". NASDAQ.com. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ↑ "OpenSooq and fast-growing social network, LINE, announce partnership". Wamda. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ↑ "The Brands of Jordan part 4". Venture Magazine. 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ↑ Herlin, Lars (2017-08-16). "Vostok New Ventures calls Opensooq the new Avito". AIM Group. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ↑ Herlin, Lars (2017-08-16). "Vostok New Ventures calls Opensooq the new Avito". AIM Group. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
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